Pool cover securing means



June 12, 1962 L. M. BARToLUccl ETAL l 3,038,171

- v POOL COVER SECURING MEANS Filed Jan. 16, 1961 United States Patent O 3,038,171 IUOL CVER SECURING MEANS Leo M. Eartoiucci .and Iohn A. Rohrer, Albuquerque,

N. Mex., assignors to Bart Enterprises, Inc., a corporation of New Mexico Filed Jan. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 82,756 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This invention relates to securing means and in particular to means for fastening a cover across an opening such as the top of a swimming pool.

Under various circumstances it may be desirable to cover an opening, and particularly an opening such as the top of a swimming pool. In a prior patent of Leo M. Bartolucci, U.S. 2,952,024, means for securing a cover over a swimming pool, and the advantages thereof are discussed. Briefly, a pool cover prevents animals from jumping into the pool, and debris such as leaves and grass `from blowing into the pool. Most important a suitable pool cover prevents small children from falling into the pool when i-t is unattended. A suitable yfastening assembly for securing a cover over a pool should be sufiiciently sturdy to support not only the weight of the cover, but additionally, the weight of children and animals which are likely to run upon the cover. The securing means of the previously mentioned patent is most easily installed along with installation of the pool edging. The present invention is concerned with securing means which may be easily and securely installed on an existing pool edging.

A primary feature of the invention is the provision of a new and improved cover securing means.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of securing means for fastening a cover over an opening.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of securing means simple and rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of an assembly for precluding -access to an open top pool bounded by edging, in which a cover having spaced edge apertures extends over the top o-f the pool, with means for securing the cover to the pool edging including bases secured to the pool edging in alignment with adjacent cover apertures, and connectorseach attached 'to a base and extending upwardly through the adjacent cover aperture, each Iconnector being in the form of a U-shaped member pivotally mounted on the respective base for being positioned flush with the lbase when the cover is removed, and means extending through the connectors and overlying the cover to retain the cover on the pool edging and the connectors in the apertures.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pool with a cover secured across the open top thereof by securing means embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the securing means compacted in an inoperative position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 7-'7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a plan View of a base for the securing means; and

3,38,l7l Patented June l2, 1962 FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a U-shaped connector for the securing means.

The invention is, in brief, directed to securing means on spaced apart portions of the edging of a pool opening and received in spaced apart grommets in edge portions of a pool cover. The cover is retained in engagement with the pool edging and the securing means by a cable overlying the cover edge portion and passing through each securing means. Each securing means includes a base secured to the pool edging `and a connector pivotally mounted on the base and extending outwardly therefrom when operatively engaging the cover, and substantially flush with the base when the cover is removed so that the securing 4rneans, presents a smooth outer configuration.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, 'as illustrated in the drawings, a cover such as a tarpaulin 10 is secured across the open top of a recess, such as a pool, by `securing means 11 mounted on Va horizontal surface or face 12 Vof edging forming `a pool bounding structure 13, such as a concrete slab, and retained thereon by a cable 14. Each securing means 11 includes a base 15 mounted on the surface 12 by bolts 16 passing through holes in the base and threadedly received in suitable anchors received in sockets drilled into the pool bounding structure 13. Pivotally associated with the base 15 is a U-shaped connector 17 which extends upwardly and ou-twardly from the base 15 in the operative position, as illustrated in FIGURES 1-3. Apertures, defined by grommets 18 are spaced apart in peripheral edges of the cover 10 a distance equal to the spacing between the fasteners 11, yand each grommet 18 receives a connector 17 and rests on the base 15. The cable 14 overlies the cover edge portions, serially passes through successive connectors 17, and is pulled tight providing means for retaining the connectors in the grommets and holding the cover edge portions against the surface 12, thereby retarding the entrance of foreign matter between the cover and the surface 12 and into the pool. In the inoperative position, illustrated in FIGURES 4-7, the connectors 17 are substantially within the base 14 and vthe securing means 11 presents ya substantially smooth upper and outer configuration.

More particularly, the base 15 is an inverted, shallow, dish-shaped circular shell having a convex outer surface `and a concave inner lface with a generally coplanar peripheral rim 19 adjacent the mounting surface 12. A pair of diametrically opposed, spaced `apart attaching portions 20 extend inwardly from the concave inner face of the base and each has a bottom surface 21 substantially in the plane of the rim 19, fand preferably extending slightly below the plane of the rim and engaging the surface 12, with the rim 19 spaced slightly from the surface for the free passage of water from Within the base 14 but sufficiently close to the surface lto engage the surface -without unduly bending the fasteners 16 in the event a concentrated `force is applied to the rim.

An opening 22 in the base 14 between the attaching portions 20 receives the U-shaped connector 17. The connector 17 has a bight portion 23, and extending from opposite ends thereof 4are a pair of coplanar legs having end portions 24, each leg having a pin 25 extending transversely therefrom in opposite directions and pivotally received in mounting portions of the `base. Each mounting portion comprises a recess 26 defined by a side surface 27 of an attaching portion 20 and the adjacent portion of the concave inner face. The opening 22 is defined by a peripheral edge conforming tot the configuration of the adjacent bight `and legs of the U-shaped connector 17 when the connector is in the inoperative position as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Opposite the bight receiving portion of the opening are a pair o-f notches 28 defined by a tongue 29 of the base. The notches extend in the same direction and transversely away ifrom the main portion of the opening. In the operative or extended position, illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the connector end portions 24 each rest against the base of the respective notch 28 and 4are supported thereby in a position inclined away from the main portion o-f the `opening 22 for maintaining the connector 17 in an upright position. The side edges of the tongue 29 may engage either inner surface of the connector end portions 24 for retarding any tendency of the pins 2S to be pulled out of their respective recesses 26.

The tongue 29 is inclined from the convex outer face inwardly toward the main portion of the opening 22, and downwardly toward the rim 23, thereby providing a smooth portion on the outer iface. The coplanar connector leg end portions 24 rest against the surface 12 when the connector 17 is in the inoperative position, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, and the connector bight 23 is inclined upwardly and shields the adjacent portion of the peripheral edge of the opening 22. Therefore, should a person step on the outer `face of the securing means 11 with a bare foot, the `bottom of the foot will be partially supported by the smooth juncture of the tongue 29 with the remainder of the 4body 15 and by the smooth connector bight Z7, rather than entirely on the peripheral edge of the opening 22.

In securing the cover over the pool each connector 17 is Pivoted lfrom the inoperative position to the operative upright position in which it extends outwardly from the base 15. The cover grommets 18 are positioned on the connectors and the cable 14 is then threaded through the connectors 17 and is pulled tight and fastened. Upon removing the cover the cable 14 is first removed from the connectors 17, the cover lifted off of the pool, and the connectors pivoted to the inoperative position.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An assembly for precluding access to an open top pool `bounded by edging, comprising: a cover extending across the open top of said pool, said cover having edge portions with spaced apertures overlying said pool edging; means for securing said cover to said pool edging comprising bases secured to said edging in alignment with adjacent cover apertures; connectors each attached to a base and extending upwardly through the adjacent cover aperture, each connector comprising a member with an opening and a U-shaped portion having legs pivotally mounted on the respective base and embracing a tongue on the base to retain said legs on said base; and means extending through said connector openings and overlying said cover to retain said cover on said pool edging and said connectors in said cover apertures.

2. An assembly for -precluding access to an open top pool bounded by edging, comprising: a cover extending across the open top of said pool, said cover having edge portions with spaced apertures overlying said pool edging; means for securing said cover to said pool edging comprising bases secured to said edging in alignment with an adjacent cover aperture, said bases each having an opening including a pair of notches defined by a tongue; connectors each attached to said bases and received in said `base openings; each connector extending upwardly through the adjacent cover aperture and comprising a U-shaped member having legs and oppositely extending pins each secured to opposite legs, said pins being pivotably mounted on the respective base, each leg being received in a different notch, said legs embracing said tongue to retain said connector pins mounted on said base, said connectors ybeing pivotal to a position substantially within said opening and flush with said base when said cover is removed; and means extending through said connectors and overlying said cover to retain said cover on said edging and said connectors in said cover apertures.

3. An assembly for securing an edge portion of a cover having an aperture therethrough to edging of an open top pool, comprising: a base having an opening including a pair of notches defined by a tongue, said tongue being inclined downwardly toward a free end thereof, said base having a mountinglportion adjacent each notch; and means comprising a connector received in said base opening and extending upwardly from said base for receipt in said cover aperture, said connector comprising a U-shaped member having legs pivotably secured to said mounting portions and each received in a different notch, said legs embracing said tongue to retain said connector mounted on said base, said connector being pivoted to a position tiush with said base when said cover is removed.

4. An assembly `for securing an edge portion of a cover having an aperture therethrough to edging of an open top pool, comprising: an inverted dish-shaped base having a concave inner face, said base having an opening detined by a peripheral edge and including a pair of notches dened by a tongue, said tongue being inclined downwardly toward a free end thereof, said base having a mounting portion comprising a recess adjacent each notch; a means including said attaching portions for securing said base to said pool edging with the plane of the bottom of said base on said pool edging; means comprising a connector received in said base opening and extending upwardly from said base `for receipt in said cover aperture, said connector comprising a U-shaped member having a bight and coplanar legs each with a pin transverse thereto, said pins being pivotably received in opposite recesses and each leg Ibeing received in a diierent notch, said legs selectively abutting said tongue to retain said pins in said recesses, said connector being pivotal to a position substantially flush with said base when said cover is removed with said legs on the plane of the bottom of said base and said bight being included upwardly and shielding said peripheral edge of said opening; and means for retaining said cover on said edging and said connector in said aperture.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said recesses extend outwardly from the adjacent notch and said pins extend outwardly from their respective legs.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 307,867 Parker Nov. 11, 1884 625,483 Whyman May 23, 1899 2,952,024 Bartolucci Sept. 13, 1960 2,958,872 Meyer Nov. 8, 1960 

